Organizers will host a summit from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 14 for anyone who wants to work on the effort. It will be at the Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St. More than 100 people are expected to attend to hear several presenters talk about the issues that face Rockford and the region, and to seek input from audience members.

Tom Gendron will make remarks. He is chairman and CEO of Woodward Inc. and one of a handful of businessmen who have pledged more than $3 million to get the effort going. Woodward is building a $300 million factory and office in Loves Park to make airplane fuel systems and plans to double its local workforce, now at 1,400, in a decade. But Gendron, who has dozens of family members living in the Rockford area, has expressed concern about keeping the operation going long term if Rockford continues on its path socially and economically.

Gendron has talked about a broad goal of aiming to make Rockford one of the top 25 on national lists of desirable places to live, work and play by 2025. Specific strategies on how to get there will be determined over the coming months.

Several others who are also working on the plan will talk about their concerns about the city at the Nov. 14 meeting, said Mike Schablaske, a former Woodward employee who has been helping shepherd the effort.

Specifics of what presenters will say is not yet available, but topics will include employment, safety, poverty, education, taxes and health and wellness, Schablaske said.

A few of what Transform Rockford organizers call the "brutal facts" include:

- Joblessness: Unemployment in Winnebago and Boone counties in August, according to the most recent figures available, was 10.7 percent. The U.S. rate, 7.3 percent; Illinois, 9.2 percent.

- Crime: There were 50 shots fired incidents in August citywide, up 38.9 percent from July. Although the vast majority were on the west side, they occur throughout the city. A violent crimes task force that Rockford Police Chief Chet Epperson said will include 10 local, state and federal agencies is getting off the ground in response.

Gendron has said the Transform Rockford group needs to help government and nonprofit groups "align efforts around strategies versus (pursuing) random acts."